Dean's Award

Each year, faculty in each of the ten Arts and Sciences departments submit their top recommendations to the Dean for their outstanding undergraduate graduating student(s). From this pool of candidates, the Dean along with a selection committee choose an outstanding graduate for the fields of Humanities and Theology, Mathematics and Sciences, and Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Characteristics that the candidates are judged on include scholarly achievement, leadership, and service within the Barry community as well as outside the university.

May 2014

Humanities and Theology

Dianna BellianMajor: EnglishSpecialization: Literature

A famous businessperson once wrote that “Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” These words provide a good, brief description of Dianna Bellian’s career here at Barry. She pursued excellence in all her endeavors, planned her schedule and her life carefully, and focused a tremendous amount of effort on the things about which she cares. She excelled in her academic work, with a GPA of 3.87, a major in English with a specialization in Literature, and the successful completion of the Honors Program. She presented at academic conferences, including a paper she read at the Northeast Regional Honors Conference in Niagara, New York. She served as a writer and copy editor for The Barry Buccaneer. In addition, she was a member of the extremely successful Barry Ethics Bowl Team. Outside the classroom, she shone as well. She was president of the Honors Program Student Advisory Board for two years. She served as vice-president of both the English Association and the Philosophy Club. She worked as a Youth Leader at the Miami Shores Presbyterian Church and participated in several of the Annual College Brides’ Walks Against Domestic Violence. The only problem with a student such as Dianna is that inevitably we must lose her. Four years pass so very quickly. Nevertheless, we wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors, which include teaching summer school in Arizona this summer and beginning graduate school in the Fall at Eastern Illinois University.

Mathematics and Sciences

Talia GuardiaMajor: BiologyMinors: Chemistry and Mathematics

Talia Guardia, a biology major and chemistry minor, exemplifies the mission of Barry and has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and community service. Since coming to Barry in Fall 2010, Talia maintained a GPA of 3.6-3.8. As an active participant in the NIH-supported RISE program, she began research as a freshman through the ROADS club and completed three years of cancer research in the biology department with Dr. Tang Hu. While enrolled at Barry, for three summers Talia also conducted research at research-intensive institutions - MIT, Cornell, and the National Cancer Institute, and presented that research at national scientific meetings. Talia was inducted into Sigma Xi, Delta Epsilon Iota, Tri Beta, and Gamma Sigma Epsilon; she was a member of the American Association of Cancer Research and was president of the Barry chapter of the American Medical Student Association. She accumulated a strong record of service to Barry and the wider community, including participating in toy drives, the Brides walk, Miami Beach clean-up, the Heart Walk, preparing Thanksgiving basket donations, and helping prepare chemistry ‘magic show’ demonstrations for elementary school children. Talia served as a role model and inspiration to her peers. Talia will complete a cancer research internship at MIT before applying to the MD/PhD program.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Leslie RedmondMajor: Political ScienceMinors: Africana Studies

Leslie was a Political Science major with a minor in Africana Studies. She was inducted into several academic honor societies including: Phi Sigma Alpha (Political Science), Sigma Tau Delta (English), Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman), and Delta Epsilon Iota (Career Services). Leslie was president of the Barry Student Government Association. She was the recipient of the St. Catherine Medal, the Barry Resident Assistant of the Year Award and the Dr. George Wanko Award for junior class excellence. Leslie volunteered for Organizing for America, College Brides Walk, Martin Luther King Day of Service, and the Girl Scouts of America. She completed an internship with the U.S. Department of the Interior. Leslie will attend the University of St. Thomas Law School in St. Paul, Minnesota.

May 2013

Humanities and Theology

Thomas DepaloMajor: Philosophy

Thomas Depalo came to Barry University specifically to study philosophy at Barry. While at Barry, Thomas was an outstanding member of Barry’s Ethics Bowl Debate Team, which earned an invitation to the National Championship Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a member of the national philosophy honor society, Phi Sigma Tau and the Barry Philosophy club, where he served as an officer in both. Thomas was also a member of Barry’s academic honor society Delta Epsilon Iota. Thomas was known for his insightful comments during class discussions, and for reading widely beyond the assigned texts; he regularly requested summer reading lists from faculty members. The Barry philosophy faculty all recognized Thomas’s unique philosophical talent. Not only was Thomas a distinguished undergraduate scholar, he also had an excellent university and community service record. He served as Secretary of the Student Government Association, as the undergraduate representative of the Grade Appeal Committee, as one of Barry’s representatives who lobbied for the continuation of FRAG, and as a member of Barry’s Multicultural and Diversity Task Force. Thomas also gave back to the community by tutoring local elementary school students. Thomas was an outstanding student who blended high academic achievement (he graduated with a 3.899 GPA and completing his undergraduate education in three years) with active participation in University and community service. Thomas is a true intellectual who is working and planning to begin law school in the fall of 2014.

Mathematics and Sciences

Alec DavilaMajor: Biology

Alec Davila, a biology major, graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.966. At the end of his freshman year, he was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma and Delta Epsilon Iota honor societies, and subsequently, the Gamma Sigma Epsilon, Tri-beta, Sigma Xi, and Alpha Chi honor societies. He was also the recipient of one of the 2013 Excellence in Leadership President’s award for seniors. Biomedical research was an integral part of his training at Barry, first as a participant of the National Institutes of Health-supported ROADS research club in 2010, and then in 2011 and 2012 he was selected for summer research internships at the University of Florida and Seattle Children’s Research Institute, respectively. As an NIH Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) scholar, he also conducted research in the department of biology, winning research presentation awards at undergraduate symposia. In 2012, he participated in a quantitative biology workshop at MIT and later, received the Outstanding Physics Student Award. He was also committed to social and educational causes by helping to bridge the healthcare gap in under-served communities as a Spanish interpreter at health fairs, helping to organize food drives and deliver food to families during the Thanksgiving season as vice-president of Tri-beta, by encouraging the next generation of scientists, and by volunteering at science fairs and exhibits. Alec was accepted to several medical schools and PhD programs. He chose to enter the MD Program at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University beginning Fall 2013.

May 2012

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Sade BrooksMajor: Criminology

Sade Brooks graduated with a 3.649 cumulative GPA. Importantly, she clearly demonstrated her critical thinking skills throughout her time in the department. She was a thoughtful and engaged student who was on the Dean’s List numerous times. Sade was also a member of Pi Gamma Mu honor society. In fall 2011, Sade completed a study abroad experience in Greece. In summer 2011, she interned with the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was also accepted to participate in the Roper Victim Assistance Academy, a 40-hour training for crime victim service providers as well as the 2011 National Center for Victims of Crime conference.
Sade was also president of Ignite, the Sociology/Criminology club. The group, under Sade’s leadership, sponsored a debate in the fall and a forum in April 2012. Sade dramatically expanded the club’s activities, including on-campus events as well as service both on campus and off. She organized a very successful toy drive and holiday party for the children receiving services through No More Tears, a 501(c)3 organization that assists victims of domestic violence, and helped co-sponsor the Teens for Jeans program. Sade was actively involved in Barry’s Environmental Sustainability Team (BEST) and helped to coordinate earth month programming. In addition, Sade was involved with Art in Motion on campus, serving as that group’s Secretary and Public Relations volunteer. Sade worked as a Resident Assistant, helping to supervise residence hall students and coordinate educational programming.
Sade went on to study law at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Humanities and Theology

Grace CollinsDouble Major: Philosophy and History

Grace Collins was one of Barry’s most outstanding students. She earned a 3.872 GPA with a double major of Philosophy and History. She was in the Honors Program and successfully defended her Senior Thesis entitled “Perfect Races to Perfect Babies: The Moral Impermissibility of Genetic Enhancements.” She was a member of the Barry University chapter of the National Philosophical Honor Society, Phi Sigma Tau, and the History Honor Society Phi Alpha Theta. Grace was also a member of Barry’s Ethics Bowl team that won an invitation to the National Championship Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio. Not only was Grace an outstanding student, she was extremely active in university and community service and was awarded the St. Catherine Medal for Outstanding Service her junior year. She was a four-year member and Captain of the Barry University Softball Team and won All-American honors for her excellent athletic achievements.
Grace’s career ambition was to become a lawyer and she is currently attending law school at the University of Florida.

Mathematics and Sciences

Daniel MoralesMajor: Chemistry

Daniel Morales graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry with a specialization in Biochemistry and earned a cumulative GPA of 3.947. Daniel entered Barry after serving four years in the United States Navy. In his first year, Daniel was named the Outstanding Freshman Chemistry Student at Barry, and he was the recipient of the Department of Physical Sciences Honor Scholarship and the Chemistry and Physics Faculty Endowed Scholarship (the department’s most prestigious scholarship award based on academic excellence, departmental mission support, and community service leadership).
Daniel was active in service initiatives in both the Department of Physical Sciences and the community at large (Ronald McDonald House, Science Olympiad, and third Grade Chemistry Demonstrations to name a few). Daniel served as the President of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society and presented a poster describing the award winning activities of the club at the 243rd National American Chemical Society Meeting in San Diego, California.
Finally, Daniel conducted research in two different research groups. He performed theoretical calculations in astrophysics to detect the existence of the axion, a hypothetical elementary particle, with Dr. Maurizio Giannotti. He also conducted synthetic organic research synthesizing muscarinic agonists for the potential therapeutic use in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease with Dr. John Boulos.
Daniel truly exemplifies the qualities of outstanding service and academics that earned him the honor of being named the Outstanding Graduate in science and mathematics for the College of Arts and Sciences for 2012.
Daniel went on to study medicine at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada.

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